Public Image Ltd.

6music

Formed 1978.

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John Lydon - Interview with Jo Whiley

Jo chats to John Lydon about his favourite music and the new Public Image Ltd album.

Featured on BBC MUSIC SHOWCASE

Biography

Public Image Ltd (PiL) are an English post-punk band formed by vocalist John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten), guitarist Keith Levene and bassist Jah Wobble, with frequent subsequent personnel changes. Lydon is the sole constant member of the band.

Lydon emerged after the break-up of the Sex Pistols with PiL's Public Image: First Issue (1978). His new band had a more experimental sound: Wobble's "droning, slow-tempo, bass-heavy noise rock, overlaid by Lydon's distinctive, vituperative rant". Their early work is often regarded as some of the most challenging and innovative music of the post-punk era. Their 1979 album Metal Box was ranked number 469 on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. The NME described PiL as "arguably the first post-rock group".

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Latest News Stories

News from the BBC

  1. John Lydon names new PiL album

    Tue 29 Nov 2011 19:48

    Public Image Limited are about to release their first material in over 20 years
  2. New PiL material

    Fri 29 Jul 2011 12:27

    John Lydon discusses the band's first new material in 20 years
  3. Lydon puts new PiL music on hold

    Mon 22 Nov 2010 11:42

    John Lydon delays sessions to record new material with Public Image Ltd following the...

Latest Blog Posts

Blogs from the BBC

  1. Punk Britannia on BBC Four and 6 Music

    Mon 28 May 2012 17:06 John Lydon... James Stirling (6 Music)

BBC Reviews

  1. This is PiL 2012

    Review of This is PiL

    Reviewed by Johnny Sharp

    Rotten returns with a curious mixture of rage and nostalgia.
  2. Metal Box 2009

    Review of Metal Box

    Reviewed by Mike Diver

    Landmark post-punk LP remastered for its 30th anniversary.

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